Everyone except Ning Wei and Li Ye went to the kitchen to get busy.
Just as Li Ye was engrossed in his book, a meow was heard.
Ning Wei's eyes immediately opened and she looked around, then saw a snow-white cat on the wall.
"Is everything alright?" Seeing Ning Wei's strong reaction, Li Ye's heart sank.
Ning Wei gently shook her head, her eyes fixed on the white cat.
The white cat jumped down from the wall, walked gracefully around the courtyard, and then leaped into Ning Wei's arms.
Ning Wei chuckled, tentatively reaching out to pet it. The soft fur made her hand linger. Now she finally understood Tang Tang's desire to pet the black cat.
The white cat lay on Ning Wei's lap, its color pure white without a trace of impurity, its snow-white fur gleaming in the sunlight.
It settled into the most comfortable position, purring softly.
Ning Wei simply held the white cat and continued to sleep. Li Ye resigned himself to covering the cat with a corner of his clothes.
The white cat opened its eyes and glanced at Li Ye. Its eyes were clear, meeting Li Ye's lake-like gaze. They looked at each other as if conversing in a different language.
By the time Tang Tang and the others finished cooking, they discovered a new member in the courtyard.
Unfortunately, the white cat was only close to Ning Wei, then Li Ye. As for everyone else, they couldn't even dream of touching a single hair of it.
Tang Tang, unwilling to believe it, secretly reached out to touch the white cat's tail, which dangled in the air, occasionally swaying.
It was entirely snow-white, no wonder Tang Tang was smitten.
Just as Tang Tang was about to touch it, the white cat extended its paw and left three bloody scratches on the back of her hand.
"Ah!" Tang Tang cried out in pain.
"Wash it quickly with soapy water!" Mei Nan immediately told Tang Tang.
Afraid of rabies, Tang Tang was pulled by Yuan Yuan to wash her hands.
When Tang Tang returned, she looked at the white cat with a wronged expression, but the white cat didn't even spare her a glance.
"This cat only recognizes Ning Wei. Don't try to pet it anymore," Zhu Yulian whispered to her.
"Will I get rabies?" Tang Tang was more concerned about this issue. This town didn't seem like a place where one could get vaccinated.
"Probably not," Mei Nan wasn't sure herself.
Tang Tang became dejected, losing her appetite.
She didn't want to be stuck here due to rabies before she could escape that bus. If that were the case, she would die with regrets.
"Don't worry. Rabies has an incubation period. By the time several years have passed, we will definitely have returned to the real world," Ning Wei said, it was unclear whether she was comforting them or speaking the truth.
However, her words had a good effect. Tang Tang was a resilient girl. Looking at the clean and well-groomed white cat, she began to reassure herself, "It looks so clean and well-cared for. It must belong to someone. Perhaps it's already been vaccinated."
No one wanted to shatter this illusion, nor could they change reality, so they all nodded in agreement.
The matter was settled, and everyone resumed eating.
As soon as they picked up their chopsticks, someone pounded on the small door.
Mei Nan frowned and looked over. The Meng couple were at the Wang family's banquet, which everyone in town knew. How could anyone be knocking on their door?
"I'll go," the knocking continued. Song Zhi put down his chopsticks and went to the door.
Everyone was still vigilant, so they gripped their chopsticks and looked in the direction of the small door.
"Who is it?" There was no peephole in the town's doors. Song Zhi stood at the entrance and asked first.
"It's me, Uncle Meng!" The voice was indeed his.
Mei Nan also got up and walked over. Song Zhi slowly opened the door.
"Old Meng, weren't you at the banquet? Why are you back so soon?" Mei Nan and Uncle Meng were around the same age, so they had long since switched to informal addresses: one called the other Old Meng, and the other Old Mei.
Uncle Meng looked like he had run over. He was still leaning on the doorframe, gasping for breath when he opened it.
No wonder they only heard knocking before. That was why.
Mei Nan pulled him inside. Yuan Yuan had already brought a glass of cool boiled water.
Uncle Meng sat down and took a large gulp of water, finally catching his breath.
"What happened?" Seeing his state, they guessed something must have happened.
Uncle Meng didn't answer Mei Nan's question, but looked at Ning Wei, who was holding the white cat, with a pleading look.
Everyone was stunned. If he had come specifically for Ning Wei, it must be something related to her abilities.
Ning Wei rested one hand under the cat's chin to help it sleep, while the other stroked it from head to tail, feeling its soft fur.
"Master Ning Wei, something has happened at the Wang family's. Would it be convenient for you to go and take a look?" Uncle Meng said, lacking confidence.
Since Ning Wei and her group were staying at his house, and he was the one actively seeking her out this time, he felt as if he were overstepping his bounds.
Ning Wei didn't mind. She only asked curiously, "Why don't you ask Master Ci Yun?"
Uncle Meng explained in a low voice, "Master Ci Yun went to the neighboring town today. We've already sent two young men to find him. Can you please go and take a look first?"
No one spoke, not even Mei Nan actively vouched for Uncle Meng.
Because they all knew that the incident at the Wang family's was likely related to the mountain god.
The mountain god was too powerful, capable of controlling time for births and deaths. This was not something they could afford to provoke.
Its status was special. Everyone in the town was its believer, unlike any of their previous experiences.
It was not a vengeful spirit, nor did it have grievances. Instead, it was a being that stood at the apex, feared by all.
Ning Wei remained silent, and Uncle Meng's heart sank little by little.
When the incident occurred at the Wang family's, he immediately thought of Ning Wei, but he was too embarrassed to ask her.
If someone hadn't mentioned that Master Ci Yun was not in town, Ning Wei wouldn't have been their choice this time.
The reason Uncle Meng came was that everyone felt Ning Wei's group, living with the Meng family, would be easier to approach.
In fact, Uncle Meng hadn't held much hope when he came. It was the tearful eyes of the old Wang family's daughter-in-law that softened his heart, forcing him to make this trip.
"Let's go," Ning Wei said softly.
Everyone looked at her in disbelief. Even Mei Nan shook her head slightly.
The cat in her arms suddenly opened its eyes, its big dark round eyes looking exceptionally cute.
Ning Wei held the cat, Li Ye followed her silently, and Uncle Meng led the way.
Tang Tang and the others thought for a moment, then decided to follow.
The group arrived at the Wang family's house. Many tables and chairs were set up in the courtyard, but at that moment, there was not a single person seated. Everyone had gathered around the perimeter of the courtyard, not leaving, but also not entering.